iBeacon微定位技術應用於視障者行動導航之研究

Abstract

手機的導航功能是一般人習以為常的生活工具，到陌生地點的路線規劃變成越來越簡單的事，不過目前多數的服務都以地圖方式呈現，資訊陳列和互動設計皆十分視覺導向，造成以聽覺操作手機的視障者覺得難以上手且不友善。統計發現，台灣國內的視障者幾乎天天都有外出需求，卻沒有一款針對他們所設計的導航服務，導致需要外出與獨立行動的視障族群必須透過更繁瑣的準備過程才得以安心的出門。再者，搭配現有導航服務的GPS定位並不夠準確，無法提供視障者所需的近身資訊，東南西北方位與百餘單位的公尺數對明眼人來說都可能是一項挑戰，視障者更是難以消化。因此，本研究透過情境訪查、隨身觀察與專家訪談等質化研究方式，深入探索視障者需求，並了解他們與一般人於行動上的異同。藉由新興的iBeacon微定位技術提供非視覺化的線索，將曲折的旅程分割成一段一段的路線，並在設計過程中融入視障者定向訓練的所知所學，讓他們能以原有技能在街道上安心行走，提升獨立出門的安全性。

Using mobile apps to help route finding is very common for most of us. However, the visually impaired smartphone user does not benefit from this technology. A tremendous demand for independence and mobility remains unsolved. Unlike us, the visually impaired use their smartphone by auditory sense. But those apps with touch screen are not specially designed for their usage pattern. According to our preliminary study, current navigation service always comes with bad information display and unfriendly interaction design. All of these lead to a very frustrating navigation experience. Through the qualitative research methods like contextual inquiry, shadowing, and expert interview, we’d like to explore how different they are from us on the matter of traveling, and reveal the real need of the visually impaired for mobile navigation. Based on our research finding, we want to propose a navigation app specially made for the visually impaired smartphone user. In addition to GPS base service, we provide hyper-local, meaningful multi-sensory notifications to our user through micro location technology of iBeacon. And we integrate the knowledge they learned from Orientation and Mobility training in the navigation process to create a better walking experience and encourage them to live with independency. The app itself is not only a way finding tool but also an information and experience sharing platform for the visually impaired community. Combining the power of design and technology, we can enhance their cognition to the living environment, and improved the independence & mobility for our users as well. In the end, the visual impaired users will be motivated to explore the world on their own and enjoy the colorful world.